Flat-iron.



H. P. BALL.

FLAT IRON. APPLICATION FILED SEPT-25. I9I4.

1 ,1 88,367. I L Patented une 20, 1916."

Witnesses: L 7 Inventor":

I I Haw II,

H isflttrney.

'm! COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60., wAsmNu'mN. D. 6-

unrrnn srAT s PATENT ornro HENRY PRICE BALL, 0 F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FLAT-IRON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 20, 1916.

Application filed September 25, 1914. Serial No. 863,420.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY PRICE BALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flat Irons, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to a fiat-iron which is provided with means for supporting the same in an inverted position so that the base is uppermost and may be used'as a stove. lVhile it is frequently desirable to invert a. flat-iron that is used for ordinary household purposes in order that the same may be used as a heater, an iron of this character is particularly useful for travelers who desire a flat-iron for ordinary use and also desire to utilize the same as a stove for carrying out light cooking operations, heating water, etc.

For a fuller understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a flat-iron embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same in inverted position; and Fig. '3 is a vertical sectional view of a part of the handle and of one of the cooperating handle supports.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 is th base of the iron.

I have shown my invention embodied in flat-iron of the electric type, although it will be understood that it is applicable to other irons. The iron in which I have shown my invention embodied is provided with a shell 2 which incloses an insulated heating element provided with terminals 3 which are inclosed within a socket 1 in the usual man ner. Handle straps or supports 5 are secured to the shell 2. A handle A is divided horizontally into two sections 6 and 7, respectively. The lower section 7 is preferably provided on its upper face with. a metallic plate 8, which is bent over the ends of the section at 9. This plate is here shown as narrower than the handle. This plate is secured to the section 7 by screws 10, and the section itself to the handle supports by screws 11. The upper section 6 of the handle, the top of which is in the same plane as the tops of the supports 5, is pivoted to the lower section at 12. The two sections are locked in closed position by a latch 13 carried by a leaf spring 14, which is preferably bent back upon itself, as shown in Fig. 3. This spring is suitably secured to the lower section 7 of the handle, and is received within an opening 15 formed in the lower part thereof. The latch 13 passes through an opening 16 in the plate 8, and is received within an opening 17 in a plate 18 which is secured to the lower face of the upper section 6 of the handle. The outer end of the spring 14 passes through an opening 19 the adjacent support 5, and forms a handle by which the latch 13 may be released from the upper section 6. When thus released, the .upper section of the handle is free to be rotated about its pivot.

To utilize the flat-iron as a stove, it is only 1 necessary to release the latch 13 by pressing down the spring 14, and then rotate the upper section 6 of the handle through substantially ninety degrees. Now, when the iron is inverted it will rest upon the section 6 and the ends of the supports 5, since these points of support are in the same plane. In this position it will be obvious that the iron may be used as an ordinary electric stove.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I' desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out'by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a flat-iron, means for rendering the iron invertible comprising a longitudinally divided handle one section of which is sta tionary with respect to the iron and the other section of'which is pivoted to the first which is pivoted to the first section, and

means for locking the two sections in closed position.

3. A fiat-iron comprising handle supports,

a handle carried thereby one section of which is secured to the supports and the other, section of which is pivoted to the first section, the supports for the handle extending flush with the top thereof.

4. A fiat-iron comprising a longitudinally divided handle one section of which is secured to the iron and the other of which is pivoted to the first section, one section being provided with a latch and the other with an opening for receiving the same whereby the handle may be locked in its closed position.

5. A fiat-iron comprising a horizontally divided handle one section of which is stationary with reference to the iron and the other section of which is pivoted to the first section and forms in its opened position with a stationary part of the iron a support for the iron in its inverted position.

6. A flat-iron comprising handle supports, a horizontally divided handle the lower section of which is secured to the supports and the upper section of Which is pivoted to the other section, the top of the handle lying in substantially the same plane as the ends of the supports, whereby, when said pivoted section is opened, the iron rests upon the pivoted section and the ends of the supports. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 22nd day of Sept, 1914.

HENRY PRICE BALL. Witnesses:

S. H. BECKER, S. ROTH.

Copies of this patent may be Obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

